BRITANNIC ROMAN SARMATIAN CAVALRY SPATHA GRIP SEGMENT

Photo
Copyright 2009

David
Xavier Kenney

Sarmatian Spatha Grip Segment

This is the first section of a two section bone Cavalry spatha (long sword) grip. It was a gift from friends in England who inherited a well known collection of Miltaria. It was made as a funerary votive or memorial, if so then it may have once been on the spatha of the individual it memorizes, or it may be a dedication to a deity. The art on it has more Asiatic influences then usual. This group of pictures has a focus on the top. To the right there is a mounted figure. In the center there is a nail or a spike, this is a central theme, it should represent the pole star or magnetic north. Pictures 9 and 10 show what may be a spoon, this suggests that the Sarmatians may have brought knowledge of the ancient Chinese spoon compass to Europe.

Photo
Copyright 2009

David
Xavier Kenney

Segment Top and Inside

This group of pictures shows the top and inside of the top of the segment. There is an overall theme of a type of animal Ouroboros (snake biting it's tail). There are smaller figures on this that meet, there is a central theme in the center of this. The rest of the pictures are of the inside. Pictures 7 thru 10 show an area with an engraved cutout. In Pictures 9 and 19 this cutout is seen as a vertical sword with a hilt that is connected to and a container, the blade is twisted, the guard appears somewhat like a sphinx but also as a boat. There is a somewhat similar sword seen on the visor of the Roman Naval Officer's helmet with the Military section of the Roman Officer Permanent Collection.

Photo
Copyright 2009

David
Xavier Kenney

Segment Top Inside

Pictures 3, 4.5, 6. 8, 9, 11,12,13, and 14 show a head in a conical helmet with a spike, there is a type of standard and a spatha (long sword) to the left, some of the pictures shows that to the right there is a long knife in white, but then if the segment is moved correctly, then the long knife can transform into a sword. When the two swords are seen, they form a triangle pointed up. Inside and in from of the helmeted head there is a horses's head (that when moved can also be seen as a dog's head) that is also a hill or a mountain peak, on top of this is a sword with a cruciform hilt, although it can not be seen clearly in these pictures it is very much a sword and not a cross. This whole area is treated with a thick white see-through coating, it will change when it is moved, this may also suggests something like the Aurea Borealis. This should be of the Sarmatian war god, but also possibly of the god Attis.

Photo
Copyright 2009

David
Xavier Kenney

Segment Top Inside Upside Down

The images with this group of pictures appear to be of a Sarmatian sword in the stone story, just the sword in the stone theme itself can be seen with Pictures 15 thru 19.

Photo
Copyright 2009

David
Xavier Kenney

Segment Bottom and Inside

This group of pictures shows another Ouroboros, but it is not of animals, but rather it is of a serpent and a bird. Pictures 3 thru 5 show a scene, in Picture 5 minute amounts of lapis lazuli can be seen. Pictures . 6 thru 9 show some type of feather fan. With Pictures 10 thru 13 there are two strands of transparent material, when seen in Picture 12 it hints of some goddess.

Photo
Copyright 2009

David
Xavier Kenney

Segment Bottom Wax Icon

The following images are of a small (just a little over a mm in length) piece of wax, it is on the bottom of the segment, the segment is made so that the wax does not touch the surface. The wax may be bee's wax that has been treated. It appears to be of a sacred axe head, a flower goddess, a bee metal smith, and more.